Jul 26 2012
Pool of Siloam: a Divine Moment
John 9:1-7 Photo: Recently discovered steps around the genuine Pool of Siloam
“Why are some people born blind?” This is the way most people would ask the question today. But the disciples asked it differently; “Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Associating sin with medical disorders was common in Bible days. Jesus’ reply is informative; “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.” Like the disciples, many Christians today are quick to generalize saying ‘all sickness is due to sin’ or ‘sickness has nothing to do with sin,’ but Jesus evaluated each case separately claiming sin was the cause in some situations (Jn 5.14) but not others. He relied on his Father to inform him case by case. More
Aug 22 2013
‘The wind blows wherever it pleases’
What Jesus’ discussion with Nicodemus means for spiritual and physical healing.
Can you remember the details of your conversion experience? If it was an obvious move from darkness to light you probably remember something that got your curiosity going. Perhaps you felt God’s presence in a church, or it was something a friend said or did that impacted you. Such an experience usually leads us to a period where we ask lots of questions before we make a final decision. Nicodemus was no different (John 3:1-16). He came to Jesus one night because he had seen the miracles he was doing and was starting to believe that Jesus really had an authority from God.
Knowing Nicodemus was starting to see God in what he was doing, Jesus said, “No one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.” Obviously Nicodemus was not born again, but Jesus used the fact that he was seeing something to explain that complete sight could only come by a radical transformation of the heart, something so radical that Jesus called it being ‘born again.’
This term ‘born again’ threw Nicodemus. He could not understand how anyone could be born a second time? More